HCSO Seeks Help Idenitfying Serial Robbers Who Knocked Over Kangaroo

By Matt Wiley

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) is seeking the public’s help in locating two suspects they believe are responsible for a string of robberies dating back to July 22, including one just south of Tampa Palms on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.

HCSO needs your help identifying these men who robbed three convenience stores.
HCSO needs your help identifying these men who robbed three convenience stores.

According to HCSO, just after midnight on July 22, two black male suspects of unknown age — one wearing a hockey mask and wielding a revolver, the other wearing a dark bandana — began a cross-county robbery spree in Valrico, hitting a Circle K on Lumsden Rd. The two confronted the clerk and demanded money and lottery tickets. They even stole a donation jar from the checkout counter.Continue reading

New Tampa Rec Center Not Expanding Until At Least 2016

By Matt Wiley

It appears as though the bustling New Tampa Recreation Center (NTRC) in Tampa Palms, which was expected to undergo an expansion this year, will remain at its current size for the foreseeable future.

Paige Kinsey, 14, (airborne) is one of the more than 7,500 annual participants who utilize the New Tampa Recreation Center, located on Commerce Park Blvd. in Tampa Palms.

In his 2014 City of Tampa Budget presentation on July 25, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn announced that his recommended budget for the City is $830.9 million, with about $103 million devoted to capital improvement projects, which include government, transportation, utilities and parks & recreation projects.

However, the expansion of the 19,500-sq.-ft. NTRC, a hub for local gymnasts, did not make it onto this year’s list of funded projects (although we mistakenly reported in our July 20 issue that the NTRC would be a funded project for 2013-14).Continue reading

Thanks, New Tampa & Wesley Chapel, For Our Best Summer Ever!

An editorial by Gary Nager
An editorial
by Gary Nager

Although I still hear a lot of the businesses we do business with say that they don’t see the economy recovering — at least not at any pace that’s helping them — based on the number of new businesses that keep opening in our area and the fact that those owners seem to have little or no trouble spending money with us to promote those businesses, I think there is some economic momentum being built in our community.

Every year, it seems, we have a fairly sizable number of advertisers who say, “Hold me out until after the summer, because there’s no one here until the end of August.” Well, even though we did have a few businesses pull their ads this summer, there have been even more coming in to take their place. In fact, I can safely say that, culminating with this issue, the summer of 2013 has been the best — in terms of both advertising revenue and the feedback we’re getting from readers and advertisers alike — we have ever had in our New Tampa and Wesley Chapel issues for June-August!Continue reading

Cross Creek Blvd. Widening to Morris Bridge Rd. Could Begin as Early as May 2014

By Matt Wiley

Cross Creek Blvd. currently funnels down to two lanes just past the entrance to Cory Lake Isles.
Cross Creek Blvd. currently funnels down to two lanes just past the entrance to Cory Lake Isles.

Getting from Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. to Morris Bridge Rd. by car could get a lot quicker in the next two years, as the City of Tampa plans to widen the portion of Cross Creek Blvd. that currently is still one lane in each direction, making the entire 4.5-mile stretch four lanes.

The project, which has been in the works for several years, could begin as soon as May 2014, according to city documents. Currently, Cross Creek Blvd. which links BBD to Morris Bridge Rd., is a four-lane divided road for two miles, beginning at BBD east to just beyond Cory Lake Dr. at the entrance to the Cory Lake Isles Professional Center.

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Celebrating the Rebirth of the Pebble Creek Collection

By Gary Nager

You may not realize it, but the Pebble Creek Collection (PCC) on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. is the oldest shopping plaza in New Tampa. Built during the 1970s, the strip center looks as good as it ever has, thanks to an ongoing facelift provided by the center’s landlord and owner, John Martinez, which has included replacing the entire roof throughout the plaza.

The Pebble Creek Collection shopping plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just north of Cross Creek Blvd., is experiencing a rebirth.
The Pebble Creek Collection shopping plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just north of Cross Creek Blvd., is experiencing a rebirth.

That’s a good thing, because our office was in the Collection more than a dozen years ago, and roof leaks were an ongoing issue when we were there.

“We’re also going to replace the plaza’s current monument sign on Bruce B. Downs with something a lot nicer,” he says. “I’m really happy with the way the center has filled back up.”Continue reading